ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The role of the farmer has never been more important. In the coming decades, agriculture’s ability to meet the demands of our growing global population in an increasingly sustainable way will be vitally important. Farmers will have to grow more on existing farmland and effectively mitigate challenges from weather and threats – such as bugs, weeds and resource scarcity. Innovation will be central to helping farmers do more with less, and manage the challenges that prevent food and crops from making it to harvest. Monsanto Company’s (NYSE: MON) investment in a wide range of agriculture solutions is helping farmers better address the core challenges they face on farm and to continue to increase the amount of food and crops they’re able to produce. Today, the company showcased a range of new developments as part of its annual research and development update -- highlighting its commitment to deliver sustainable agriculture solutions that help farmers have better harvests and make a balanced meal more accessible for everyone. “Farmers around the world will be responsible for providing a balanced plate for more than 9 billion people by 2050. To do it, we will need to effectively double the food supply,” said Robert Fraley, Ph.D., Monsanto’s chief technology officer. “Science and innovation play an important role in meeting this challenge, and Monsanto’s R&D platforms, related pipeline advancements and collaboration with other experts are critical to meeting the future needs of our population.” Monsanto, which is broadly known for its work in plant biotechnology or GMO crops, has five additional R&D platforms focused on delivering better products to farmers -- plant breeding, crop protection, microbials, BioDirect™ and The Climate Corporation. Core R&D Platforms Set Foundation By utilizing advancements in plant breeding, plant biotechnology and crop protection, Monsanto’s core R&D platforms are poised to offer farmers novel ways to reduce crop loss due to plant disease, insect infestations and reduced water availability. These improvements are designed to help farmers get more harvest from the same footprint of land while using fewer resources. Some of the company’s innovations showcased today included ways for farmers to: Mitigate disease challenges on farm. Gray Leaf Spot disease affects more than half of the farmland growing corn in the United States, and can result in harvest reductions as high as 30 percent. Through innovation in breeding, Monsanto’s launch of Corn Gray Leaf Spot Resistance will offer farmers more options to manage plant disease. The 2014 R&D trials demonstrated a greater than 30 bushel per acre advantage in low-to-high disease pressure environments. Through innovation in plant breeding, Monsanto is launching a disease-resistant pepper that offers the potential to drastically reduce loss in the field. In R&D trials, Phytophthora-Resistant Peppers demonstrated a more than 80 percent increase in harvest potential under field conditions that are common in many parts of the world. This represents real value to consumers and farmers by helping deliver more peppers from farm to table, and it represents an important new tool for the environment because local farming can return to areas previously decimated by this disease. Bring more to harvest on the same footprint of land. Managing insects is a key factor in ensuring the best possible harvest. Monsanto showcased four next-generation insect-control technologies – SmartStax® PRO, third-generation above-ground protection corn, second-generation insect-protection soybeans and Bollgard® III – that the company anticipates introducing to farmers near the end of the decade. With an integrated R&D platform approach, solutions to more effectively manage insects go beyond biotechnology. Monsanto continues to innovate with a recently advanced seed treatment that demonstrates broad-spectrum control of nematode pests in corn, cotton, soybeans and vegetables. The company’s 2014 R&D trials demonstrated a yield advantage of 6 bushels per acre in corn and an advantage of 2 bushels per acre in soybeans, when compared to the competitive standard. Weeds rob crops of valuable water, nutrients and sunlight. The company continues to make progress towards a limited introduction of Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton, with the USDA’s recent recommendation for deregulation. These cotton varieties will offer industry-leading insect protection through the Bollgard® II trait with the new XtendFlex™ traits offering farmers the flexibility in herbicide applications to best fit the weed pressures they face. Better manage the planet’s natural resources and the effects of climate change. Helping mitigate the impact of weather on crop yield is an important aspect of sustainable agriculture. The effects of drought can devastate a farmer’s harvest. The company today highlighted Genuity® DroughtGard® Hybrids with SmartStax® PRO corn, a drought-resistant product designed for broad use. This product, which is a part of the company’s collaboration with BASF Plant Science, will help farmers better manage crops in hot and dry conditions by using water more efficiently. New Platforms Offer Potential for Breakthrough Solutions The company’s newest technology platforms focus on delivering innovations for agriculture that help increase the amount of crops that make it to harvest and further support the efficient use of natural resources. Driven by advancements in data science and increased knowledge of plant biology and soil microbiology, The BioAg Alliance, BioDirect™ and The Climate Corporation offer new approaches for farmers to support sustainable agriculture. Whether it is through the seamless connectivity of an app for farmers to more efficiently manage a field, or advances in soil health management, Monsanto’s growth platforms offer solutions for an integrated management system that helps farmers sustainably produce more food per acre. “A farmer will make 40 to 50 key decisions every year on how to manage their crop. With upgrades to the Climate Basic and Climate Pro apps, we can help better inform many of those decisions helping farmers improve harvests and reduce natural resource use,” said Fraley. “The value of an integrated system becomes clear when you pair the efficiencies of precision agriculture with the exciting results we’re seeing through The BioAg Alliance.” New platform innovations showcased today included ways for farmers to: Bring more food to harvest. The BioDirect™ platform focuses on developing new tools to target plant disease, insect and weed control and improvements to bee health. This year marks the first Phase 2 advancement for the BioDirect platform, with the BioDirect Insect Control Colorado Potato Beetle project. Information technology advances from The Climate Corporation offer farmers the power of precision agriculture in the palm of their hand. Software and connectivity enhancements across the Climate Basic and Climate Pro apps offer a more user-friendly interface and offer farmers seamless connectivity. Better manage the planet’s natural resources. Upgrades to The Climate Corporation’s Nitrogen Advisor tool for corn growers will incorporate a new soil hydration model and soil temperature simulator to offer farmers more effective tracking and management of field nitrogen levels. With the industry’s most advanced microbials platform focused on improving soil health and harvest through naturally occurring microorganisms, the first full year results from The BioAg Alliance, a collaboration between Monsanto and Novozymes, are robust. Of the top 10 microbe strains tested in corn and soybeans, average yield increases were 4 bushels and 2 bushels, respectively. Resources For more information on Monsanto’s complete research and development pipeline, visit www.monsanto.com/pipeline. Monsanto also announced the company’s financial results for its fiscal 2015 first quarter today, which included an update of projects within the company’s R&D pipeline. For more information about today’s earnings announcement, see the press release and supporting resources available at www.monsanto.com. About Monsanto Company Monsanto is committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce seeds for fruits, vegetables and key crops – such as corn, soybeans, and cotton – that help farmers have better harvests while using water and other important resources more efficiently. We work to find sustainable solutions for soil health, help farmers use data to improve farming practices and conserve natural resources, and provide crop protection products to minimize damage from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. To learn more about Monsanto, our commitments and our more than 20,000 dedicated employees, please visit: discover.monsanto.com and monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows® at monsantoblog.com or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this release are “forward-looking statements,” such as statements concerning the company’s anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company’s actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company’s exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company’s research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits and the previously-announced SEC investigation; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting the company’s manufacturing; the accuracy of the company’s estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the recent increases in and expected higher levels of indebtedness; the company’s ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company’s facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company’s most recent periodic report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this release. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results. Notes to editors: Monsanto and the Vine Design, DroughtGard®, SmartStax® PRO, Bollgard®, Bollgard® II, XtendFlex™ and Genuity®, are trademarks of Monsanto Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Contact: Monsanto Company Media: Becky Ericson, 314-694-2919 or Sara Miller, 314-694-5824